December 2013

If you took the December 2013
SAT, you would have been given one of the essay prompts below:

Prompt 1

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following
excerpt and the assignment below.

Being unwilling to change is often seen as a limitation. For
example, a common accusation people often make in arguments is
that the other person refuses to even consider taking new
positions on issues. But being consistent is not always a bad
thing. In fact, firmly supporting a position or point of view
shows that one is stable and constant and does not change one's
position whenever circumstances change. This consistency is far
more important than a willingness to adjust one's thinking.

Assignment:

Is it more important to remain consistent than to change one's
mind when circumstances change? Plan and write an essay in which
you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your
position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading,
studies, experience, or observations.

Prompt 2

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following
excerpt and the assignment below.

Getting people to work well in teams is crucial to accomplishing
ambitious goals. Teams work a kind of magic in developing
important ideas and getting hard work done, and they give us the
close human contact and shared purpose that we all need. But
there's a dark side to teams too: group identity can be too
powerful. The desire to be an accepted member of a group can
prevent individuals from forming their own moral judgments.

Adapted from Peter S. Temes, The Power of Purpose

Assignment:

Are teams or groups beneficial for individuals, or does group
membership prevent individuals from forming their own moral
judgments? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point
of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and
examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or
observations.

Prompt 3

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following
excerpt and the assignment below.

Modern society values convenience. From disposable napkins to the
personal computer, from fast-food restaurants to cell phones, it
seems that nearly everything we buy or use has been designed to
maximize convenience. Unfortunately, instead of saving time and
energy and minimizing frustration, many of the so-called
conveniences in our lives turn out to be nuisances or have a
negative impact on our health, the environment, or our emotional
well-being.

Assignment:

Does society place too much value on convenience? Plan and write
an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue.
Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your
reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Prompt 4

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following
excerpt and the assignment below.

When we go shopping, most of us do not think about the impact our
spending has on other people. However, if we buy products from
companies or individuals that mistreat their employees or the
environment, or that otherwise do harm, we indirectly approve or
even encourage such behavior. On the other hand, it may be
unrealistic to assume that anything would prevent people from
buying a good product at the right price.

Assignment:

Do consumers have a responsibility to purchase goods only from
companies and people whose actions are beneficial to others? Plan
and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this
issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken
from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

SAT & ACT Writing: Writing a Strong Essay

Learn how to write a strong essay on the Writing section of the SAT
and English section of the ACT by:
- writing a strong thesis statement that answers the question posed
in the writing prompt
- writing a good topic sentence
- writing a strong paragraph that supports your thesis statement
- writing a strong conclusion that restates your thesis statement
and provides examples.

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